His voice choked, and he paused, unable, for the moment, to go on.
"Let us begin farther back than that, Mr. Curtiss," I suggested, knowing that the beginning was the hardest part. "Mr. Royce tells me you were classmates. When did you graduate from college?"
"Seven years ago."
"And you came at once to New York?"
"Yes, to take the examination for the Pennsylvania road."
"You were given a place on the road at once?"
"Yes—not a very important place, but one with a chance for promotion, which was all I asked. I was stationed at Pittsburg for three years and then called east to work on the division between New York and Philadelphia. A year ago, I was made assistant at the headquarters office."
"Rather a remarkable career," I commented, smiling.
"Not at all," he protested quickly. "I liked the work, and I was well equipped."
I saw that I should have to revise my opinion of him—certainly he was not conceited.